Exchange student safety, a move to Little Tokyo and APA candidates

Vol. 141, No. 8, October 21, 2005. 12 pages. View this issue

A Japanese exchange student’s placement in the Florida home of a convicted felon led the news, as Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on demands for criminal background checks and the placement agency’s reply that it broke no guidelines. Lynda Lin wrote on geisha-inspired beauty and fashion products released ahead of a film, with JACL’s John Tateishi criticizing them as stereotyping, and on Asian Pacific American candidates running for local office in November. In Oregon, a site on the Snake River was named Chinese Massacre Cove in memory of 1887, and plans for a research building near the Fort Missoula internment camp site were put on hold.

The paper announced it was moving back to Little Tokyo by December 1. Floyd Mori wrote about his first two months as JACL’s Director of Public Policy, and Heidi Tanakatsubo wrote about honoring veterans. Harry Honda looked at Hapa Nisei football players and a prisoner of war. Sports pages covered Michelle Wie’s disqualification and Apolo Anton Ohno in Seoul. Arts coverage reviewed the film Three…Extremes.

What’s in this issue

National

• Are Foreign Exchange Students Safe? Case Sparks Demand for Background Checks, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. A 16-year-old Japanese exchange student’s placement in the Florida home of a convicted felon has sparked outrage from the Committee for the Safety of Foreign Exchange Students, which is demanding her removal and stricter background checks. The placement agency F.A.C.E. and the U.S. State Department maintain no guidelines were violated and the girl’s parents have approved her continued stay.
• The Mystique of a Geisha Packaged, Available for Sale, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Ahead of the film adaptation of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha,’ companies like Fresh, Inc. and Banana Republic are releasing geisha-inspired beauty and fashion products, reigniting debate about cultural sensitivity and stereotyping. Critics like JACL’s John Tateishi argue the products perpetuate Orientalist stereotypes rather than reflect authentic Japanese geisha culture.
• APA Political Newcomers Hope to ‘Turn the Tide’ in Their Communities, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Several Asian Pacific American candidates, including Supriya Christopher in Virginia and Sam Yoon in Boston, are running for local office in November hoping to become historic firsts for APA representation. Experts note local office is often a crucial springboard to state and federal political careers for APAs.
• Oregon Cove Named in Memory of 1887 Massacre, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names and Oregon Geographical Names Board voted to officially name a site along the Snake River ‘Chinese Massacre Cove’ to memorialize the 1887 killing of more than 30 Chinese gold miners. The decision followed advocacy from historians and groups like the Committee to Change ‘Jap’ Road, despite some local opposition to the name’s negative connotation.
• Planned Research Building at Fort Missoula on Hold, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 1. Plans for a new University of Montana research facility near the historic Fort Missoula Japanese Department of Justice internment camp site are on hold after the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission rescinded approval following protests. The commission is asking the university to submit alternative proposals that would not impact the historic internment camp area.
• Massacre Cove: The History Behind the Name, by P.C. Staff, page 2. This continuation details the 1887 massacre of Chinese gold miners at Deep Creek along the Snake River, where armed horse thieves killed and mutilated more than 30 miners for gold. The article recounts the historical investigation, the eventual naming of ‘Chinese Massacre Cove,’ and reactions from local officials, historians, and JACL members.
• In Wake of Hunter Killings, State DNR Runs Safety Ads, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is airing safety announcements about hunters’ property rights after six deer hunters were killed by Hmong immigrant Chai Soua Vang in a trespassing confrontation. Vang was convicted of six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and is scheduled for sentencing in November.
• Rape a Growing Problem in Hmong Community, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A Star Tribune report reveals that sexual assault, including rape and forced prostitution, is a growing problem among young Hmong girls in Minnesota, often perpetrated by gang members who go unpunished. Police, schools, and community members are taking steps to address the crisis as shame prevents many victims from coming forward.
• Killers of Chinese Food Deliveryman Still Unidentified, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Detectives in New York are still searching for two men who killed Chinese food deliveryman Sahua Chen during a robbery in the Bronx. City officials are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the killers’ capture.
• Aragoncillo Charged with Stealing Classified Documents, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. A Filipino American government employee, Aragoncillo, faces up to 25 years in prison for allegedly acting as a spy for a foreign government by stealing classified documents from Vice President Cheney’s office and the FBI. He is accused of sending the documents to opposition leaders in the Philippines.
• Muslim Chaplain Recalls Ordeal of Guantanamo in New Book, by Ben Fox, Associated Press, page 3. Former Army Capt. James Yee describes his disturbing experiences as a Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay in his new book ‘For God and Country,’ including his wrongful arrest and 76 days in solitary confinement on suspicion of espionage. Yee expresses deep concerns about detainee treatment and believes many prisoners had minimal intelligence value or connection to the 9/11 attacks.
• Utah Minority Bar Honors State’s First 50 Minority Lawyers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Utah Minority Bar Association held a gala honoring the state’s first 50 minority attorneys, including several Japanese Americans like Judge Raymond S. Uno, a Heart Mountain internee and co-founder of the association. The event celebrated diversity in the legal profession spanning admissions from 1909 to 1980.
• APA Political Hopefuls Across the Nation, by Lynda Lin, page 4. This roundup profiles several APA candidates running for local office nationwide, including Jun Choi for Mayor of Edison, NJ, Franklin Chu for Rye City Council, and Jay Aiyer and Mark Lee for Houston City Council. The piece continues coverage of history-making APA politicians hoping to win elections in November.
• Fort Missoula Building Plans Face Continued Scrutiny, by P.C. Staff, page 11. University of Montana officials say they will explore alternative sites for a planned research building near the historic Fort Missoula internment camp after the historic preservation commission’s rejection. Facility Services associate director Kevin Krebsbach expressed frustration with the approval process but said the project will likely still be built at the fort.
• Foreign Exchange Student Safety Concerns Persist Amid Calls for Reform, by P.C. Staff, page 12. This continuation of the exchange student story details additional cases of alleged abuse and mistreatment of foreign exchange students, including a Thai student rescued from poor living conditions by host mother Sally Smith. Advocates continue pushing for full criminal background checks despite pushback from exchange organizations who say the concerns are overblown.

Commentary

• The P.C. Heads Back to Little Tokyo, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 2. The Pacific Citizen announces it will relocate to Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo by December 2005 after more than a decade away, with a new address and updated staff email addresses. The piece also outlines the publication schedule for the remainder of the year, including the annual Holiday Issue and New Year’s edition.
• A Critical Role, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL’s new Director of Public Policy Floyd Mori reflects on his first two months in Washington, D.C. and outlines JACL’s critical role in shaping legislation on issues like the Patriot Act, Voting Rights Act, immigration reform, hate crime law, and Social Security reform. He also highlights the Camp Preservation bill championed by Congressman Bill Thomas as a top JACL priority.
• Still on My Mind: Louisiana, Texas and Hapas, by Harry Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda explores the histories of Hapa Nisei football players and WWII veterans, including Joe Nagata who played for LSU and later coached in Louisiana, and the Fujita brothers, one of whom, Frank ‘Foo’ Fujita, was a POW of Japan whose journal became the basis for a memoir. The column weaves together personal anecdotes and historical research about mixed-race Japanese Americans in sports and war.
• Honoring Our Veterans, by Heidi Tanakatsubo, page 8. JACL National VP Heidi Tanakatsubo reflects on the sacrifices of Japanese American WWII veterans, including her grandfather who served with the MIS, and their legacy for younger generations. She emphasizes the importance of remembering veterans’ contributions beyond just Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Community

• Tanabara to be Honored by Sister City Committee, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Ruth Nomura Tanabara, 97, a founding member of the St. Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee, will be honored at an October event recognizing her decades of contributions to Japan-Minnesota relations. St. Paul’s mayor previously declared August 20, 2005 as ‘Ruth Tanabara Day.’
• APA Alumnus to be Recognized by Universities, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Former California State Assembly member George Nakano received the University Service Award at Cal State Los Angeles’ Alumni Awards Gala, recognizing his role as one of the highest-ranked APAs in the state legislature. Journalist Anh Do was also honored by USC with the university’s first OVAtion award.
• JAVA to Hold 5th Annual Veterans Day Program, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Veterans Association will hold its 5th Annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 11 at the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism, featuring keynote speaker Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu. The event will also present the first JAVA ‘Courage, Honor and Patriotism’ award to Sandra Tanamachi, who fought to remove a racist street name in Texas.

Sports

• Wie Disqualified for Bad Drop During Third Round, by Doug Ferguson, AP Sports, page 7. Michelle Wie was disqualified from the Samsung World Championship, her first tournament as a professional, after signing an incorrect scorecard following a controversial drop from the bushes. Rules officials determined her drop was closer to the hole than allowed, overshadowing Annika Sorenstam’s dominant win.
• Ohno Surprised by Warm Reception in Seoul, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. U.S. short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno received a warmer reception than expected in Seoul, years after his controversial 2002 Olympic win over South Korean skater Kim Dong-sung sparked hate mail and death threats. Ohno reflected on the improved relations and the emergence of new skating talent in Asia.
• Dave Shoji Named to NCAA Anniversary Team, by P.C. Staff, page 7. University of Hawaii women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji was named to the NCAA 25th Anniversary Team for his three national championships and outstanding coaching record. Former player Deitre Collins was also honored on the anniversary team alongside other standout collegiate volleyball players.

Arts & Entertainment

• Repulsion, Guilt and Dismemberment in ‘Three…Extremes’, by Lynda Lin, page 9. The horror anthology film ‘Three…Extremes’ features segments from three acclaimed Asian directors—Fruit Chan, Park Chan-Wook, and Takashi Miike—each exploring different facets of psychological terror. The review praises the film’s ability to evoke deep unease through visceral imagery and unconventional storytelling rather than typical horror tropes.

Obituaries

• Henry Hwang, Founder of First Chinese American Bank, Dies at 77, by Associated Press, page 11. Henry Hwang, founder of the Far East National Bank—the first federally chartered Chinese American bank—died of colon cancer at his San Marino home. Hwang was also a noted philanthropist who donated to Claremont Graduate University and helped fund a new home for the East West Players theater in Little Tokyo.

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